Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

वराङ्ग्याः सुतजन्म-उत्पातवर्णनम् | Birth of Varāṅgī’s Son and the Description of Portents

Utpātas

Devanagari script

प्राप्ताज्ञः स महामायी मायिनामपि मोहकः । सर्वदेवजयं कर्तुं तपोर्थं मन आदधे

Transliteration

prāptājñaḥ sa mahāmāyī māyināmapi mohakaḥ | sarvadevajayaṃ kartuṃ taporthaṃ mana ādadhe

Translation

Nang makamtan ang pahintulot, ang dakilang gumagamit ng Māyā—na kayang linlangin maging ang ibang mapanlinlang—ay nagpasya sa kanyang isip na magsagawa ng tapas, upang sa gayon ay madaig ang lahat ng mga deva.

Word by Word

• प्राप्ताज्ञः: having obtained permission/command
• प्राप्ताज्ञः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त-आज्ञ (कृदन्त + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त: प्राप्त (√आप्/आप् धातु, क्त/PPP) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) — ‘आज्ञां प्राप्तः’ (having obtained command/permission)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• महामायी: great illusionist; possessing great māyā
• महामायी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामाया/महामायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘महान् मायावी’ (one possessing great māyā)

• मायिनाम्: of the illusionists
• मायिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — ‘also/even’

• मोहकः: deluder; one who bewilders
• मोहकः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वदेवजयम्: victory over all the gods
• सर्वदेवजयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-देव-जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास: सर्वदेवानां जयः (victory over all gods)

• कर्तुम्: to accomplish
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय/infinitive (कृदन्त); ‘to do/to accomplish’

• तपः: austerity; penance
• तपः: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as first member in compound with अर्थम्

• अर्थम्: for the sake (of)
• अर्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/कर्म-प्रवचन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; with तपः → तपोर्थम् (for the sake of penance)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आदधे: he set/placed (his mind)
• आदधे: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; √धा with उपसर्ग आ- (to place/compose/settle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that great power and austerity (tapas) can be driven by egoic ambition—“conquering the gods”—and thus remain within māyā; in Shaiva understanding, true fruition of tapas is attained when it is offered to Pati (Śiva) for inner purification and liberation rather than domination.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse contrasts goal-oriented tapas aimed at control with Shaiva worship where discipline is anchored in devotion to Saguna Śiva (Linga as the compassionate, accessible form of Pati), transforming effort into grace-led sādhanā rather than a mere accumulation of occult merit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies channeling tapas into Shaiva sādhanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), meditation on the Linga, and simple purity disciplines (bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa where appropriate) so austerity becomes a means to self-mastery and devotion.